The Thousand Nights and a Night

Athwart the welkin slant the snows and pile

On sill and balcony, their feathery feet

Trip o'er the landscape, and pursuing sleet

Earth's brow beglooming, robs the skies of smile:

Lies in her mourning-shroud our Northern Isle

And bitter winds in battle o'er her meet.

Her world is death-like, when behold! we greet

Light-gleams from morning-land in welcome while.

A light of golden mine and orient pearl--

Vistas of fairy-land, where Beauty reigns

And Valiance revels; cloudless moon, fierce sun,

The wold, the palm-tree; cities; hosts; a whirl

Of life in tents and palaces and fanes:

The light that streams from THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE.

Tangier, Marocco: Feb. 19, 1886.